Year 7 Technology · 2026
Week 9 · Lesson 18

Finishing — sanding, aesthetics & title block

Week 9 · 75 minutes · Year 7 Technology (Mandatory) · Bridge It

TE4-3DP

🎯 Learning intentions

  • I can lightly sand my bridge to remove glue drips and splinters.
  • I can attach a title block with team name, span, mass and date.
  • I can apply basic aesthetics (optional paint or stain) without weakening the bridge.

✅ Success criteria

  • Bridge has a title block attached and visible.
  • Sanding complete — no sharp edges, no visible glue blobs.
  • Bridge is WEIGHED and weight is recorded in journal (to the nearest gram).

Do Now · 5 min

Weigh your bridge on the kitchen scales at the front. Record in journal: "Bridge mass: ___ g." Note: this number matters — we use it to calculate load-to-mass ratio at test.

I Do · ~10 min Teacher demonstration

Teacher demo — finishing pass.

  1. Light sanding with fine sandpaper. Go WITH the grain. No pressure — just smoothing.
  2. Remove any dried glue drips (scrape with fingernail or gentle sanding).
  3. Attach title block — a small card at one end with: team name, span, mass, date, truss type.
  4. (Optional) paint or stain — but ONLY on non-structural members. PVA does NOT like paint on top. Wait for load test to paint if not confident.

We Do · ~15 min Guided practice

Together we design a title block layout. Technical lettering (from Term 1 L10) — UPPERCASE, same height, even spacing. Example:

┌─────────────────────────┐
│ BRIDGE IT 2026          │
│ TEAM: BRADFIELD         │
│ SPAN: 350 MM            │
│ MASS: 124 G             │
│ TRUSS: PRATT            │
│ DATE: 17 JUNE 2026      │
└─────────────────────────┘

You Do · ~35 min Independent pair work

Finishing touches (35 min).

  1. Light sanding pass across entire bridge.
  2. Measure clear span — the gap your bridge will span on test day (350 mm).
  3. Weigh your bridge; record.
  4. Design and attach title block using technical lettering.
  5. Take photo 7 — final bridge, title block visible.
  6. Store on shelf until L19 (one lesson for PVA to fully cure).

Differentiation

🪜Support

Pre-printed title block to fill in. Sanding with teacher supervision.

🎯Core

Design your own title block + finishing pass.

🚀Extension

Create a team logo and a one-sentence design statement on the title block. Connect to Elements & Principles of Design from Term 1.

Exit Ticket · 5 min

  1. Bridge mass in grams?
  2. Does your bridge have a title block?
  3. Any last-minute worries about load test day?

📚 Resources for this lesson

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